20:58 Robot dogs to relieve Ukrainian soldiers in the war
Robot Dogs to Support Ukrainian Soldiers in War Against Russia
A secret location in Ukraine is where a specialist from a British military solutions company, who wished to remain anonymous and introduced himself as "Yuri", demonstrated the "BAD One" robot model. This four-legged robot can run, jump, and sit on command via remote control. Yuri explained that soldiers sent on reconnaissance missions are usually highly trained and experienced, but constantly face risks. Deploying these robots could replace human soldiers, potentially saving lives. The robot's battery lasts two to three hours, according to Yuri.
"BAD One" could be used to detect mines and scout Russian positions, or transport up to seven kilograms of ammunition or medical supplies to the frontline. Yuri couldn't disclose the number or locations of robots currently in use in Ukraine, but he's convinced they're making a difference in missions and enhancing soldier safety.
8:20 PM Zelensky: Russia Must Feel Consequences of War It Started
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia must feel the consequences of the war it initiated, following the Ukrainian army's push into the Russian region of Kursk. He said, "Russia brought the war to Ukraine, now it should feel what it has done." However, Zelensky didn't directly mention the Ukrainian troops' advance in Kursk. Neither did other Ukrainian officials comment on the operation that began on Tuesday. Thousands were evacuated on both sides of the border. Zelensky reported receiving three reports from military chief Oleksandr Syrsky, describing the actions as "efficient" and "exactly what the country needs now." Some observers believe the unprecedented Ukrainian army advance in Kursk aims to occupy Russian territory to strengthen its position in future peace negotiations.
7:05 PM Zelensky Praises Army's Ability to Surprise
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised his army's ability to "surprise," but didn't mention the fighting in the Russian region of Kursk. Russian troops have been trying to fend off a Ukrainian offensive in the border region for three days. There's still no official statement from the Ukrainian side on this matter.
5:44 PM Russian Military Blog Reports Western Part of Sudja in Kursk Region Under Ukrainian Control
The Ukrainian army continues its surprising offensive into the Russian region of Kursk, making territorial gains. While Russian civil authorities and the defense ministry officially claim the Ukrainian advance has been stopped, the Russian military blog Rybar, close to the ministry, paints a different picture. According to Rybar, Ukrainians are pushing forward, reinforcing their positions at night, and have taken control of the western part of the town of Sudja. Fighting is ongoing for the eastern part of the town. Additionally, Ukrainians have advanced north towards Anastasevka and northeast towards Korenovo.
Local reports suggest there is no Ukrainian presence in Sushcha itself. Only to the north and west of the city are there reports of shootings and artillery fire. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Ukrainian reconnaissance units have also advanced towards the Kursk nuclear power plant and have been spotted in Anastasyevka.
19:04 SPD to discuss stationing of US missiles in SeptemberThe defense spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Wolfgang Hellmich, has announced a debate in the Bundestag on the stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany. "It's important that we consider everything on this crucial topic, take the concerns of citizens seriously, and address information gaps," Hellmich told the Funke media group. "We will address this issue in our faction and in the Bundestag as a whole after the parliamentary summer break in September to meet the existing information and discussion needs." The federal government and the US government have agreed that the USA will station long-range weapons systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026, which can reach targets in Russia. Many German citizens view this decision critically, according to polls.
18:19 Russian prosecutor seeks 15-year sentence for US woman accused of aiding UkraineA Russian state-owned media outlet reports that the prosecutor's office is seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of high treason. Ksenia Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She was accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. During a closed-door trial on Wednesday, she reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges. News agency Interfax reports today, citing Khavana's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov, that the prosecutor's office has requested a 15-year sentence. The verdict is expected on August 15. Khavana is said to have become a US citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had traveled to Russia to visit family members. An activist group says the charges against Khavana stem from a $51 (around €47) donation to a US charity organization that supports Ukraine. Russia has enacted laws since the deployment of troops to Ukraine in February 2022 that criminalize criticism of its actions there. Concerns have increased that Russia could target US citizens for arrest.
17:54 Moscow reports Ukrainian losses in fighting in Kursk regionThe chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, told President Vladimir Putin during a video conference that about 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and more than 200 others were injured in the fighting. Russian news agencies report. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that at least two people were killed - a paramedic and an ambulance driver - and 24 others were injured in Ukrainian shelling.
17:28 Stegner expresses caution about potential use of German weapons in KurskSPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner expresses caution about the potential use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance. "Regarding the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, there was an exceptional situation at the border when the city of Kharkiv had to be defended against attacks beyond the nearby border," Stegner told the "Handelsblatt". "This did not imply a general shift in strategy regarding the handling of weapons delivered from Germany." The German government had allowed Ukraine, after a long debate in late May, to use weapons supplied by it against targets in Russia. However, this was limited to the Russian border region near Kharkiv.
17:00 ISW: Ukraine advances kilometers into Russian territoryThe Ukrainian army has made significant progress in its offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday morning, according to estimates by experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the US. The ISW states that the advance is "up to ten kilometers," while Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reports that Ukraine has advanced more than 25 kilometers. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak described the situation in western Russia as a consequence of Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. According to Russian reports, "up to a thousand" Ukrainian soldiers, as well as dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, are involved in the attack. So far, at least five civilians have been killed and 31 injured. The ISW further states that the "current extent and location of Ukrainian advances in the Kursk region (...) indicate that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a position." The aim is a key Russian army supply hub near the town of Sudzha, eight kilometers from the border.
16:28 Kiesewetter calls Ukrainian advance in Kursk "militarily strategic"CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter described the Ukrainian advance in Kursk as "militarily strategic". This allows "pressure to be taken off other parts of the front, as Russia has to tie up or redeploy forces there," Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel". The Ukrainian advance is "self-evidently legally permissible in terms of the right of self-defense" (see also entries from 14:45 and 15:07).
15:57 Ukraine: Two dead in Russian attack in DonetskAt least two people were killed in a Russian artillery attack in the city of Kostyantynivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to local authorities. The attack in the morning hit a residential area, regional governor Vadym Filshkin said on Telegram. Donetsk is a hotspot of the fighting. The parts of the region controlled by Ukraine are regularly subjected to Russian shelling. The Russian troops are trying to advance on the strategically important logistics hub city of Pokrovsk. Four people were killed in a Russian attack in Donetsk on Wednesday.
15:36 Russia: Fights continue after Ukrainian push into Kursk After Ukrainian troops advanced into the Russian region of Kursk, fighting in the border area has continued for the third day, according to Moscow. Russian forces and border guards are preventing Ukrainian units from penetrating deeper into Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian forces trying to retreat from the Ukrainian border region of Sumy. 15:07 Wagenknecht warns against use of German weapons in Russia: "Red line" Sahra Wagenknecht has warned against the use of German weapons in the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory. "This is a highly dangerous development," says Wagenknecht to the Funke media group. "The Federal Chancellor must call the Ukrainian President and demand that no German weapons be used in the advance onto Russian territory," demands the BSW chairwoman. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised that Germany would not become a war party. But: "First, he allowed the Ukraine to shoot with German weapons onto Russian territory," criticizes Wagenknecht. "Does the federal government now also allow the Ukraine to advance into Russia with German weapons? That would be the next red line crossed," adds the BSW party leader. The federal government is drawing Germany "ever deeper into the war," she continues. "The danger of a major European war is becoming greater and greater." 14:45 Chairman of the Defense Committee: Ukraine can use German weapons in Kursk The chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marcus Faber, sees no problem with Ukraine using German-supplied weapons in its current advance on Russian territory. "Upon handover to Ukraine, they become Ukrainian weapons," says the FDP politician to the Funke media group. This applies "to any material," including the Leopard 2 battle tank. "With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states has become a war zone," explains Faber's position. "The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law." 14:24 Ukraine calls on Mexico to arrest Putin at Sheinbaum's inauguration The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has called on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of the elected president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum will assume the presidency on October 1, 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this office in the Latin American country. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the aforementioned (Putin) to the judicial authorities of the United Nations in The Hague," the embassy said. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who was elected as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, explained that it is "standard protocol" to invite the heads of state of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including Russia, to the inauguration.
13:50 Monitoring Services: Russian Users Can No Longer Open YouTube
Users in Russia are unable to open YouTube on their computers and mobile devices. Internet monitoring services downdetector.su, Failure Detector, and sboy.rf are reporting a significant outage of the platform. According to the sboy.rf service, over 15,000 complaints have been registered regarding the video hosting service. Complaints came from individuals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Krasnodar, the occupied Crimea, and several other regions. Users reported being able to access YouTube only through virtual private networks (VPNs). Even Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube, although the website was still available through some mobile devices. YouTube is the last Western platform still accessible in Russia, making it the last bastion of free expression. According to Decoder, over 90 million users in Russia access YouTube monthly, placing it at the top of video and streaming platforms. In mid-July, Russian media reported that the Russian government planned to block YouTube in September.
13:24 EU: Ukraine Engages in "Lawful Defense" in Russian Kursk
The EU views the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk in the context of the right to self-defense. "We believe that Ukraine is engaged in a lawful defense against an illegal aggression," a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said in Brussels. The right to self-defense includes the right to attack the enemy on its own territory. The EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression. Ukrainian troops, backed by tanks and artillery, have recently crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha and reportedly taken control of several villages. Russian reports indicate that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the operation.
12:43 Ukraine: Dozens of Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
After Ukrainian forces entered the Russian region of Kursk, "many" Russian soldiers were reportedly captured. The Ukrainian project "Khochu nayti" announced this on Telegram. The humanitarian project, launched in January 2024 by the Ukrainian military intelligence, serves as a coordination center for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. It aims to help military personnel of the Russian army find their relatives. According to "Khochu nayti", both conscripts and contract soldiers are among the captives. "There is also information about the dead, whose bodies were not removed by their comrades during the retreat," the statement reads. The project published drone footage allegedly showing the capture of more than 30 Russian soldiers. Other videos on social media show dozens of Russian soldiers surrendering in the Kursk region. The total number of Russian soldiers captured since the Ukrainian offensive in the region is still unclear.
12:18 Gazprom: Gas Transit Runs Normally Despite Fighting in Kursk RegionGazprom reports that gas exports through the Kursk border region, attacked by Ukraine, are running largely normally. Today, around 37.3 million cubic meters of natural gas is expected to be transported, the company announced in Moscow. This is five percent less than the previous day, according to the state-run Russian news agency Tass. Ukrainian troops have taken at least partial control of the city of Sudscha, also capturing a key gas pipeline measurement station en route to Western Europe. In 2023, despite the ongoing war, 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas was transported to the European Union via this route.
11:37 Military Blogger: Russia Loses 'Important Logistics Hub' to UkraineThe Russian city of Sudscha in the Kursk region has reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces, according to pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka on his Telegram channel. The town, located nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is now fully occupied by Ukrainian military forces, Podolyaka writes. "Sudscha is essentially lost for us. It's an important logistics hub," he adds. Ukrainian forces are pushing north towards Lgow. "In general, the situation is difficult and deteriorating, despite the noticeable slowdown in the pace of the Ukrainian offensive."
11:04 Munz: Kursk Incursion 'Completely Surprised' MoscowInitially, the situation remains unclear, but it is later confirmed: Ukrainian fighters are attacking on Russian territory. The incursion in the Kursk region has "completely surprised" Moscow, reports ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. However, there may be more to the attack than just a diversionary maneuver.
10:48 Russia: Situation in Kursk 'Under Control' After Ukrainian IncursionRussian forces have been engaged in fighting with infiltrating Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Oblast for the third consecutive day. The situation is "stable and under control," according to the vice-governor of the border region, as reported by the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Around 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety. Russian troops are actively fighting against Ukrainian units in the Sudscha district and pushing them back, according to the news agency Tass. Four people have been killed in the Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the offensive in Kursk. Several pro-Russian military bloggers also report ongoing fighting.
09:35 UN: Russians Torture 95% of Ukrainian POWsEmployees of Russian penal colonies are reportedly torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war from the very first interrogations. Furthermore, the practice of torture in Russian captivity is "widespread and systematic," according to Danielle Bell, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. She states that the Russian Federation has tortured 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war in their prisons. According to her, Ukrainian prisoners of war are beaten with metal rods and sticks, stripped naked, and subjected to electric shocks. "This is undoubtedly the worst I've seen in my 20 years of career," Bell says. Information about Ukrainian prisoners in Russia is mainly collected through interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war after their release. Simultaneously, the UN mission has direct access to Russian prisoners of war and can assess the prison conditions.
08:49 Estonia Introduces Enhanced Customs Controls at Russian BorderEstonia is introducing full customs controls at its eastern EU external border with Russia. This decision was made by the government of the Baltic NATO state at the beginning of August. From August 8, all persons crossing the border to Russia, as well as all cargo, will be subject to control. The controls at the road and rail border crossings in Narva, Koidula, and Luhamaa will be introduced gradually. Previously, checks on passengers and vehicles were random and risk-based. With the tightening, Prime Minister Kristen Michal aims to prevent the transit and transport of EU-sanctioned goods through Estonia and to strengthen the country's security. The border between Russia and Estonia is 294 kilometers long.
08:11 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost around 587,510 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a loss of 1,140 in the past 24 hours alone. According to a report from Kyiv, two tanks, 36 artillery systems, 81 drones, and one helicopter have also been destroyed. In total, Russia has lost 8,431 tanks, 16,487 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,293 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Western estimates put the losses lower - although these are only minimum values.
07:32 Medvedev Threatens Escalation of Russian Invasion in UkraineDmitri Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has threatened to escalate the invasion in Ukraine in response to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk. The Russian military operation should no longer be limited to securing the territories in Ukraine that Russia considers its own, says the former president. Instead, the armed forces should advance towards the cities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and beyond. The advance will only stop when Russia finds it advantageous. According to Russian reports, Ukrainian troops have advanced deep into Russian territory in the region during a counterattack, with heavy fighting reported. The state of emergency has been declared in the region.
07:05 Russia: 14 Ukrainian aerial objects destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed 14 unmanned Ukrainian aerial objects overnight, eight over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Air defense systems shot down six drones and five other missiles over the Kursk region, said Governor Alexei Smirnov. Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces attacked border areas of the Kursk region. According to the latest reports from the Russian General Staff, clashes continue in border areas. An emergency situation has been declared in Kursk, and residents are being evacuated.
06:25 Ukraine issues air alert due to Russian MiG-31K attack
The Ukrainian Air Force has issued an air alert across the entire country. The air attack warning is due to a missile threat from a Russian MiG-31K, a type of interceptor aircraft that can carry hypersonic missiles like the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
05:32 ISW: Ukrainian armored vehicles ten kilometers behind Russian border in Kursk
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian troops have advanced up to ten kilometers into the Russian region of Kursk. This was confirmed by footage of armored vehicles behind the border. Ukrainian forces have reportedly breached at least two Russian defense lines and a fortress. A Russian source claims that Ukrainian forces have captured 45 square kilometers in the Kursk region since the start of the operation on August 6. Russian authorities declared an emergency situation in the region yesterday.
02:30 Ukraine raises threshold for prison sentence in petty theft
In Ukraine, thefts of low value will no longer result in a prison sentence. President Zelensky has signed a law raising the threshold for petty theft, making such crimes punishable by fines rather than imprisonment. Previously, the threshold was set at around 6,700 UAH (approximately $170 USD). The change is due to the martial law imposed after the Russian invasion, which carries penalties of up to eight years in prison for looting and theft. In a draft law, a case of stealing baby diapers from a supermarket in Rivne in January 2023, worth around 8,000 UAH (approximately $200 USD), was cited as an example where the penalty would no longer be imprisonment. However, the perpetrator in that case still received a prison sentence of over three years.
00:27 Klingbeil: Stationing of US missiles in Germany is correctSPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends plans to station long-range US weapons in Germany against criticism from within his own party. "This stationing is correct because it helps us to defend ourselves if Russia gets the idea to attack us," Klingbeil told the German editorial network. It is part of credible deterrence. At the NATO summit in July, the White House and the German government announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that reach far into Russia. Named were Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and new hypersonic weapons. There are critical voices within the SPD, including the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who warns of the risk of military escalation.
22:38 Human rights activist Orlow wants to fight for Russian prisonersThe Moscow human rights activist Oleg Orlow, who was released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, wants to continue his civil rights work in exile. "Memorial cannot be destroyed," the 71-year-old said at a press conference at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin. The organization he co-founded, Memorial, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, also campaigns for political prisoners in Russia. Orlow estimates that at least 800 political prisoners are still in custody in Russia - conservatively estimated. His new role in exile in Germany is difficult for Orlow, as he told the story. He would rather be in his homeland, but fears prosecution. Orlow now hopes that he can use his exile to campaign for the release of more political prisoners, including eight critically ill ones. "When it turned out that these people were not on the list, we were very disappointed - we who were exchanged." Memorial continues to work in Russia despite repression, but also from abroad.
21:30 Not dead after all? Known Russian propagandist injuredThe well-known Russian propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny was injured in the Kursk region. The state television company VGTRK reports on Telegram that Poddubny was injured in an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Kursk region and was taken to hospital. Earlier, numerous Russian media had reported the death of Poddubny in agreement. Yevgeny Poddubny is one of the best-known Russian "war correspondents" in Russia. His Telegram channel has around 734,000 followers. According to preliminary information, he was filming a report on the fighting in the Kursk region on Wednesday.
20:41 Region Kursk declares state of emergencyIn the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared in the midst of a Ukrainian ground offensive. This was announced by the governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, in a Telegram post. Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. The offensive began on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.
20:14 Clashes Nearby: Russia Reinforces Protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border region of Kursk, the Russian National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additionally, extra forces have been deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency reports. This is happening in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located only about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, reportedly advancing up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.
19:38 Attacks in Kursk Region: European Gas Price Hits Yearly HighThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The leading TTF futures contract for delivery in a month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market sources point to the attacks by Ukraine on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Gazprom is currently reporting normal gas supplies.
19:08 Ukraine Evacuates Border Areas Near Russian KurskAmid heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations from more locations in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said the military governor of Sumy, Vladimir Artyukh, on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and teenagers, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an incursion across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, advancing several kilometers onto Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy equipment. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. Earlier, local authorities had ordered evacuations from an area within 10 kilometers of the border due to regular Russian shelling of border areas.
You can read all previous developments here.
The European Union could potentially provide support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, considering the seriousness of the situation.
If deployed, robot dogs like the "BAD One" could be provided by the European Union to aid Ukrainian soldiers, as they have proven effective in reconnaissance missions and potentially saving lives.
